♪ >> I know.

That this bill.

Well actually save lives.

>> Lawmakers say putting the brakes on your speed could save you some dough.

We'll tell you about a bill being considered in Frankfort.

You have these corporations are making billions of dollars out of Kentucky.

>> But they're not paying livable wage.

What they expect.

It stayed a commonwealth of Kentucky.

The 5th.

The difference.

>> A pay boost for low-wage earners.

Raising the minimum wage is a priority issue for Senate Democrats.

This session more on their priority bills coming off.

It is a privilege.

To know that something I created them.

It's getting displayed in a place like this.

Kentucky artists showcasing their talents at the state Capitol.

>> Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KET Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ >> Good Evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Wednesday, February, the 5th, I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for winding down your Wednesday with us.

New concerns tonight about the health of U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

The 82 year-old reportedly fell twice today at the U.S. Capitol.

FOX News congressional reporter says McConnell first fell on some stairs after a confirmation vote punch.

Bowl news says McConnell then fell a second time and was later seen in pictures being pushed around in a wheelchair.

In a statement McConnell's office said he's fine, adding, quote, the lingering effects of polio in his left leg will not disrupt his regular schedule of work, end quote, McConnell step down as the Republican Senate leader earlier this year.

He said his health was not a factor.

Just last month he cut his face in sprained his wrist during a fall.

And in 2023, he froze twice while speaking to reporters.

Here in Kentucky.

A couple 100 protesters gathered outside the state capitol today in Frankfort, hundreds rallied against recent actions by President Donald Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk.

>> This is.

>> Pretty much as grassroots as it gets of people just coming together.

The main goal of this and why we're out here speaking and trying to raise awareness that focuses on limiting executive overreach and in defense of our constitution.

So that's a uniting force.

So you hear a lot of different topics being talked about here because all of those are going infringe upon right now.

But our goal really is unity.

So regards of who you voted for or goes and what your party is.

And the goal is really just people to come together and exercise our rights to We need to make sure that all our lawmakers are standing up to voice the opinions of the people they represent.

>> So instead of it being unilateral decision coming from up top, it's important that the government functions the way in which it was built.

>> And how the constitution so that to operate that being representative of all the people.

The event took shape on Reddit, an online community similar protests were held elsewhere seeking to organize 50 events across.

>> 50 states.

>> The heavier your foot on the gas pedal.

The deeper you'll dig in your pockets to pay for it.

That's the idea behind a bill now before the Kentucky General Assembly.

>> If it passes anyone driving.

25 miles an hour over the speed limit would face a $200 fine.

Our role lawmaker wants costly tickets to deter reckless driving and help pay medical costs for those surviving terrible car wrecks.

Our June Leffler has details.

As we began more of tonight's legislative update.

>> 2 Republican senators debated the use of expensive speeding ticket.

>> You know, if you're going 25 miles an hour in the middle of a city that's dangerous and I can see a reason for super speeder find if you're trying to get home at 10 o'clock at night and there's nobody on limited access highway at all.

Frankly, I would just a dot montana's, reasonable and prudent standard.

And as long as you're not being unsafe, then I don't really think you should have to pay an additional 5.

I would possibly agree.

But if you have a ball out to the tire and >> then the sustained trauma, which obviously you will, then he's going to be response for the cause of the trauma.

>> Senate Bill, 57 would put revenue from those fines towards Kentucky's trauma care system like helping pay for physicians, salaries and care, administered to uninsured trauma patients.

The money would also pay to trained EMT's issue loans to rural hospitals and by automated external defibrillators for public schools, which are required by state law.

The Senate Transportation Committee advanced the bill with just one no vote trauma.

Surgeons and Kentucky testified in support of the bill.

>> We've got areas that you are 4 to 5 times more likely to die from the exact same traffic accident in our own state.

In areas of western Kentucky, eastern Kentucky in Southcentral, Kentucky.

Then you are if you were to have that same accident.

And Lexington in Louisville or the surrounding areas.

>> Senate Bill 57 is based off a law in Georgia that's generated 20 million dollars a year for trauma care.

Meredith estimates Kentucky's version could bring in 10 million dollars for Kentucky edition.

I'm John Leffler.

>> Thank you.

June Senate Bill 57 now heads to the full Senate.

>> For a vote there.

Well, yesterday we heard from Kentucky House Democrats on the top 15 bills they'd like to see passed this session today.

We're hearing from Democrats in the upper chamber as they outline their caucuses.

Key priorities.

McKenzie spank has more.

Public education, workers rights and the well-being of families are the headlines of Senate Democrats priorities this year.

>> If that sounds familiar, yesterday, House Democrats outlined many of the same issues and their legislative platform announcement.

Some of the caucuses shared priorities include competitive wages for teachers, Pre-K for all four-year-olds in Kentucky, expanding the list of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana and repealing right to work laws raising Kentucky's minimum wage is policy long overdue.

According to both caucuses.

But so far only the Senate Democrats have a bill filed on this issue.

Senate Bill 11 sponsored by Minority Caucus Chair.

Reggie Thomas is a priority Bill for Senate Dems.

This session.

>> There are several 1000 people here in Kentucky today.

That work at a minimum wage, 3 out of 5 of those workers are women.

7 out of 10 of those were kings have children.

This bill does not cost.

The state one died.

That is certainly get money because people worked at a pay taxes into it.

So that's a good thing.

It's a tax revenue raiser for the for the state.

So I just don't understand.

What I hear say that there's no appetite for it.

Individuals in Kentucky if they're not making a livable wage, who is paying the difference?

We have our social programs that we try to put in place.

Those are talks told to come in place.

You have these corporations are making billions of dollars out of Kentucky, but they're not paying livable wage, but they expect the state of the Commonwealth of Kentucky to fit the difference.

>> Senator Yates has once again filed an abortion exception.

Bill saying that exceptions for rape, incest and the non viability of the fetus are common sense measures.

He says the design of the bill leads him to believe it has a good chance of passing this year.

>> I didn't just put a bill together that I thought my caucus wanted or even as I wanted.

What I did is I tried to listen in.

See what I thought would pass based on the majority of members in the House and the majority of the members in the Senate.

So I'm hopeful that by doing that by literally regurgitating what had been promised and put into a bill that those members will vote for.

>> The issue is brought forward are not an exhaustive list of the Bills hopes to be filed by Senate Democrats.

When asked if like the House Democrats, they had a number of bills they hope to pass.

Leaders indicated the sky was the limit.

>> We hope all of our bills pass this session.

We don't put a number on it.

We've got to work through the process and our intention is to pass any and all bills that our members support.

>> For Kentucky edition, I'm McKenzie Spank.

Thank you, McKenzie.

Senate Democrats also said they will continue, quote, their vigorous defense of public education by opposing any privatization and voucher policies that they say would drain resources from public schools.

Holding the state's chief executive officer accountable for his or her actions by closing a critical loophole.

That's the overall objective of a proposed constitutional amendment to put parameters around a governor's pardons and commutations powers that according to a northern Kentucky lawmaker, Republican Chris McDaniel has tried to get state lawmakers to co-sign his idea since 2020.

It's in reaction to former Republican governor Matt Bevin's last-minute pardons of felons convicted of serious and sometimes violent crimes after losing the 2019 general election.

He's proposed ballot question embodied in Senate bill 126.

Would ask Kentucky voters this.

Are you in favor of limiting a governor's ability to grant pardons or commuted sentences by prohibiting him or her from granting pardons or commuted sentences during the time period between between we're beginning 60 days prior to the general election at which the governor is elected at ending the 5th Tuesday, 6 sitting the election, which is the day of the next gubernatorial inauguration by amending the Constitution of Kentucky.

>> I also have a recount of this committee on numerous occasions.

The a moment.

It was a waitress at a restaurant.

Had, you know, many of you recall.

I had the manager that restaurant down with me last year because after she was kidnapped in Covington, Kentucky.

Driven around the area for 2 weeks repeatedly raped in the back of a car.

Her body thrown in the field to be found infested with the creatures that a company that okay, if human remains.

Pardon or commutation.

And was ultimately eligible for parole last year.

Mercifully because of the intervention.

That's a manager.

His parole was revoked.

He will spend the rest of his life in prison.

But these are the things that happen.

And executive.

With their in their sole discretion.

Can pardon people for whatever crimes they want.

It forces the executive or the party of the executive to stand in front of the voters and account for the actions that they take.

The power to pardon still exists for 3 years and 9 months.

Out of every gubernatorial term.

This is simply a common sense measure to put in front of the voters of the Commonwealth.

A change to the Constitution to force accountability into a process.

I think that my concern is having something like this.

Would it then create a chilling effect or decrease the amount of pardons.

I have worked with folks who have been impacted by our a criminal legal system.

I do know some people who have gone through the pardon process who have have been out of incarceration and do some wonderful things in the community as a senator, I'm actually going to be having some workshops in my district because I've gotten so many people asking me, how do I go through the pardon process?

So I will be doing a workshop in April for a second chance month to teach people about that process.

>> If the Senate and House agreed to the ballot question with the required 3 fifths majority in each chamber, the measure would then go to the voters to decide in a future election McDaniel.

Senate bill 126, advanced from a Senate committee today and now awaits action by the full Senate.

Elementary School students across Kentucky will be learning about agriculture and their classrooms this year.

>> Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman teamed up with the departments of Agriculture and Education to announce the first-ever Agriculture Education Week.

>> Kentucky's public schools are the largest employer in every county.

In agriculture is the most crucial industry.

Not just in Kentucky, but throughout the world.

Yet here's the reality that we face in Kentucky.

Our schools remain undervalued and under-resourced.

There is no funding appropriated for professional development or classroom resources in our state's budget.

The average Kentucky farmer is almost 60 years old.

And the number of family farms in Kentucky is in decline.

So that means that we're facing an aging farming population with less farmland and fewer kids to understand where their food comes from.

With every passing year.

>> And so some of the things that we're doing inside of this is mystery far mascots.

So, for instance, a teacher will have a package or that they can give it out to the students at the beginning of the day.

And they have to go through a couple questions and figure out, you know, what has a rough bumping those what has floppy ears, what has certain things that are there and it's a Cal, you know, you find out what these AG mystery mascots are.

Things that are simple fun and educational.

At the same time close in AG careers.

So the thing that we want them to know as you don't have to wear overalls and and have boots on the banner coach.

You don't have to be a farmer specifically.

There are so many jobs in agriculture that are far beyond the farm that we need in this state.

We've got to do better for the future of our culture.

We have to do better for the kids in the state and this is the initiative that's going to do that.

>> Agriculture Education week begins March 17th.

At the end, students will get the chance to visit a Kentucky Farm or agriculture business.

♪ ♪ >> I'm Laura Rogers joined by National Public Radio's Ryan Lynn Barton, the Kentucky General Assembly back in action this week.

Reiland what are some of the bills and the legislation that you're keeping your eye on.

>> So far the big things happened this week as they move that bill that will reduce the state's income tax.

Another half a percentage point that's going to head on to the governor's desk.

Governor Andy Beshear said that he will sign that bill.

So very moment of bipartisanship and Frankfort on that one.

But it's something that a lot of Democratic other critics worried about that it might under cut the state's ability to generate revenue, especially at this time when little uncertain what the future economy might look like.

And this would take a lot of revenue of the state and the be produced by about 718 million dollars annually eventually.

And that's out of the the state's annual budget discretionary.

But it's not like 15 million dollars.

So it's it's a pretty significant percentage of how much money the state brings, that this is still something, though, that the governor said he's going to sorry.

Republican lawmakers have said that they are going to be cautious going forward on whether or not there to continue to do this.

This is something where every year the legislature will review depending on certain factors that they're meant to whether or not the legislature will continue doing that.

But there and being other states that have say 0 income tax like Tennessee, although Tennessee, as higher sales taxes in other states like that, generally do good might require Kentucky eventually too.

We think how it's bringing in revenue shipping for most income base, access to more consumption based Texas like sales taxes, which critics will point out are are regressive because they for folks who end up spending entirety of the money that they make each year are larger percentage of it.

That's all going to tax and things that they spend versus folks who are able to save a way that money.

They're not going to end up standing that on taxes because it won't be in from Texas.

Much so.

>> But the big thing also keeping our eye on the weather out, another dei bill, a bill restricting the programs in Kentucky or specially higher education bill and a passing that something that died at the last minute for last year section are still a lot of energy around that and conservative legislatures around the country obviously seen that in the first few weeks of President Trump's second term in office.

The spot after D I programs and we'll see if Kentucky lawmakers to rally around that.

A lot of >> higher education institutions are a lot of private companies, a big national private company.

So already done away with their dei programs in anticipation of some of this in Kentucky, University of Kentucky, northern Kentucky University.

They've already come to scrap their dei programs and change how those programs are working.

Whereas in the federal government, we've already seen that those folks in this part of actually been put on leave and possibly eventually fired.

So there's a lot of concern.

A lot of folks watching to see how exactly that rules out because the lease programs are recreated to try to create a more level playing field rated more diverse student body employment body within, you know, both the state government and in society.

So.

>> We'll see if that still remains a priority for some of these institutions.

>> I also ask you about some bills have been filed concerning public health.

>> And they seem to indicate a growing skepticism.

Concerning public health officials, national, even international health organizations.

These are bills pertaining to raw milk fluoride.

>> Blood donations that have COVID-19 antibodies at.

Tell us more about these bills and what you how you perceive then to be part of a growing conversation.

>> Could take up your radio, Sylvia Goodman to round up of some of these bills, which some of them come up every year.

But it does seem like there's more and more every year.

One of them here would allow the sale of raw milk.

That's a look at some past arises.

Who's been a a growing movement around this, something the coming year U.S. Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy said that despite saying that Bob Dole has more our nutritional factors and fast-rising know has been a practice since the early 20th century, but smartly considered to be healthy practice that prevents the transmission of deadly, but also just to be a disease that will better to make folks are increased skepticism around some of these Lawmakers and others fix feeling like adults should be able to make their own decisions around some of these things.

>> Another big national movement and a bill attached to would make it optional for a water districts to Florida.

Their water for localities supported their water.

This is something that's happened in Florida already.

And that and some localities have begun voting to not Florida at their water.

This comes after a study from a year or 2 ago that basic concerns about high-level support nation of water leading to lower IQ levels of children.

And this is a much higher level than water is fluoridated in any part of the country.

But it did sound the alarm for a lot of folks to, you know, there's there's 2 theories around this for decades and decades of that really as galvanize that movement of another one that you mentioned that would have prevented boats with.

We have had the COVID vaccine or have COVID an antibodies in their bloodstream from being able to donate blood.

It would have also allowed people to directly donate blood to people instead of, you know, just going to a larger pool of blood donors.

That Bill has the author of that.

It said that that you made a mistake there and as planning on withdrawing utterly some ending it.

But that's another.

That's another theory that start around that the blood of folks who have gotten the COVID vaccine shouldn't be.

It's something they're people should be able to opt out of having to to take that, even though there's really no clear indication that unsafe at all.

So, yeah, a lot of a lot of these bills that are related to this skepticism of kind of prevailing side to the scientific views around health, making things optional.

You have to really start to crop up in the Kentucky Legislature this year.

>> And then another bill that was filed that may not go anywhere, but it concerns gun safety firearm safety.

>> Yeah, this is the bill I always follow every year that it would require parents who have kids in the house and also guns in the house to KET those guns locked up to make it a Class B misdemeanor in Kentucky.

People to be especially aware of this.

There is that the tragic school shooting in Marshall County, Western Kentucky.

>> And which the shooter there from a garden in his stepfather spot it and that only 2 of his classmates and injuring several others.

And that there's Carla said there's another example of Or recent years.

There's countless examples of this around the country.

It's really kind of the lowest rung of a gun safety measure and think like any any responsible gun owner would also say that that's best practices to give a kid my house to KET your gun locked up that this bill, the proposed every year and it goes nowhere.

It's been proposed again and we'll see if there's any discussion about it.

It's you know, it hasn't gotten the committee hearing yet, but it's always part of the discussion.

>> There's also cases, of course, of children that just come across guns.

None.

I think they're a toy or they just mishandled.

And then we see tragic.

And so for me to Asians as well, she completely accidental.

Ron, thank you so much for checking in with us.

Always a good conversation with you.

And we will see you again next week.

>> A Kentucky journalist is being remembered as a pioneer.

The family of Vanessa Goldman says she died Monday after an illness.

Gallman was editorial page editor of the Lexington Herald leader from 1997 until 2019.

After that, she wrote for the Kentucky Lantern Coleman was a Charlotte, North Carolina native who became a reporter for the Charlotte Observer in 1976, she worked for other newspapers, including The Washington Post before coming to Lexington, Mister Coleman was 71 years old.

♪ ♪ >> A visitors at the state Capitol may notice more artwork lining the halls.

The team Kentucky gallery was started in 2021.

By Governor Andy Beshear and first Lady Britainy Beshear every 6 months.

A new exhibit is display with artwork made exclusively by Kentucky hands.

We spoke with the first lady and some of the artists as they prepared for a new exhibit.

That story is this week's Arts and Culture segment.

We call Tapestry.

>> And depending on who you ask me, Randi, of this story varies a little bit.

But the idea was to bring parts of Kentucky that don't have have a home in the capital.

I have a home and to bring a little more color and life and understanding into our capital of what it means to be a Kentuckyian so when children come through, our legislators are guess they all get to feel a little bit more of Kentucky.

There's a very easy submission process There's a committee of 4 who goes through each photo and they're all laid out on the table, all the samples and we just kind of start going through them and talk about them.

And, you know, the ones that really tell a story are the ones that that really capture it most.

This is a special photo from him.

It was the first time I ever tried to do a night, Scott and a long exposure.

So we KET exactly when the Milky Way was going to be showing so much Stern.

I went down to Aurora, which is in western Kentucky.

>> And I was so thrilled with how it came out.

It's always been one of my special pictures.

So when I saw the they team Kentucky gallery, I thought that so on.

>> This picture was in my mother's batch and it's my father and a friend of his and not remember that weekend at Rupp Forever.

But I just I love being there.

We were there every other weekend spent most of our summers there.

>> Actually, the one behind you right now is it's a bald eagle taking flight and it's so powerful and I told our tissue and even need to explain it to just.

Tells you a story.

I think it's just an honor to be included in all of these talented people of this state.

>> I'm so excited.

First thing I did, my sister and I photographed together.

We always go out a person.

That is just what guess what?

I'm so excited.

It is a privilege.

To know.

Is that something I created is getting displayed in a place like this.

You know, this is our this is our state capitol.

And this is where our governor works and people are here every day and it was such a privilege.

Are there different things in people's lives, whether it's their farmland, whether it's the grandfather working on a car, you know, newborn baby.

>> Pictures of the devastation after the tornadoes.

But it all comes speaks to Kentucky's common humanity and the things that make us uniquely Kentucky, whether it's our people or whether it is our landscape.

>> I think it shows a lack of a diversity of the geography of the state is obvious noticing it falls and rivers and just the hills and the wildlife is so much of it in this state.

And this this exhibit exemplifies all of that.

>> Plus, the the newest exhibit features more than for to 40 pieces and runs through June.

The 30th.

Kentuckyian serving in the military and their families are entitled to some services and benefits and they may not even know it.

>> It is common for an average better not to know the services and that is why we have events like today.

>> First of its kind conference helped give service members information.

They need more on that tomorrow on Kentucky EDITION, which we hope you'll join us again for at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central where we inform connect and inspire.

Connect with us all the ways you see on your screen.

Facebook X, formerly known as Twitter and Instagram to stay in the loop.

We hope you'll send us a story idea or 2 to email at public affairs at KET Dot Org and look for us on the PBS app.

You can download back to your smart device.

Thanks again for watching.

I'm Renee Shaw.

A lot of good stories tomorrow would be back in Frankfort to give you all the scoop on what's happening in your state government until then.

Have a good night.

Now season.

♪ ♪ ♪